.

the car junkie daily magazine.

.

Watch Noted Indy Car Restorer Tell The Story Of His Finding And Restoring The Bowes Seal Fast Indy Roadster


Watch Noted Indy Car Restorer Tell The Story Of His Finding And Restoring The Bowes Seal Fast Indy Roadster

Bill Akin is known around the world as one of the premier Indy 500 historians and Indy 500 race car restorers. The guy has brought so many famous Indy roadsters back to life that it boggles the mind. When we were at the 2013 NHRA Holley National Hot Rod Reunion we saw one of those very cars and because we were working at the event we did not have near enough time to actually check it out and talk to Mr Akin himself about the car. The good news is that the Holley guys did just that and the result is the fantastic video you’ll watch below.

One of the things that most people miss about Indy roadsters is that they were all slightly different in their own way. Yes, the general shape was the same for a long period of time but when you hear Akin start to go through the details on this car, like how the motor was laid over more than usual and the driveshaft actually passes next to the driver (SCARY!) as opposed to under him to get everything lower, you can start to understand how each of these cars is like a fingerprint. We all have a thumb (OK, all of us except the shop teacher in high school) but the finite details are different for everyone. Such is the case for old Indy roadsters. Akin also rules because he gets out and drives these cars at historic events and other gatherings. You’ll hear the car fired up and running in the pits, which is great because any time you can hear an Offy make its noise you need to take it. Lastly, Akin gives some great backstory on the car and how they were designed back then. The tires lasted about 150 miles before needing to be swapped, therefore they carried fuel enough for about 150 miles. We never knew that but it makes great sense!

PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE BILL AKIN TELL THE STORY OF THE BOWES SEAL FAST INDY ROADSTER THAT HE FOUND AND RESTORED BACK TO LIFE!


  • Share This
  • Pinterest
  • 0

3 thoughts on “Watch Noted Indy Car Restorer Tell The Story Of His Finding And Restoring The Bowes Seal Fast Indy Roadster

  1. odd ball

    When Thom Taylor was driving that speciffic car on an. Eppisode of Hot Rod unlimited you tube it on nearly caught a Fire do to Rags beingleft under the hood. For any matter 10 to 12 k for a motor then or now is pricey.. that’s why I like cast iron heads and copper raditors. Do aluim heads flow better when there over heated. Do they give me better over all fuel economy or are they the same untill there worked on by the head majician. The little weight the save cost in the long run I would even try steel heads. But on the the other side of the pressed coin. I also like aluiminum heads for racing they are lighter and flow well for extra hp millege or distance in math need to be retabulated and racing needs a fire lit under its ass. More to be said more to be learned. We need to use our heAds so we can have cool stuff like an offy mill. And a daily driver that gets 70 mpg that will outlast tires. And any thing above 250 degrees and a thirty min wait for water. Simplicity is strenght things are better now but we need the same mind set of the old schoolers.

Comments are closed.